OROVILLE — A former volunteer coach at Paradise High School was arraigned this morning on child sex abuse charges for an alleged incident involving a 13-year-old girl.

William Robert Prinz, 28, appeared before Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems. Prinz did not enter an initial plea on a single felony count of lewd act with a child under the age of 14.

At request of Prinz's attorney, Denny Forland, the judge set a hearing on Feb. 7 when Prinz may enter a plea.

If found guilty, Prinz faces up to eight years in state prison and would be required to register as a sex offender.

Addressing reporters after the hearing, Forland said he didn't yet know details of the case, which was filed Thursday. He said he didn't know what he would do in the case, but would act accordingly based on the evidence and the wishes of the involved families.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office initially arrested Prinz on Jan. 2 on suspicion of three counts of lewd acts. He was taken into custody at the Paradise house of his father — Paradise High head football coach Rick Prinz.

William Prinz was reportedly a volunteer coach with the football team, but resigned late last fall. There are also indications that he was a former coach for the freshman boys basketball team.

District Attorney Mike Ramsey said at his office that Prinz was reportedly a family friend of the 13-year-old girl. The alleged incident took place at the girl's Magalia residence after the others had gone to bed.

After the hearing, deputy district attorney Kennedy Rizzuto said there was no indication the alleged incident was connected with Prinz's school activities.

Without specifying the defendant's alleged conduct, Rizzuto said Prinz reportedly had regular contact with the girl's family and had allegedly been drinking before the incident early on Dec. 2.

Also during today's hearing, Judge Deems ordered Prinz to stay away from two juveniles.

Rizzuto said the judge's no-contact order applied to the alleged victim and an elementary-school-aged girl who may be called as a witness regarding allegedly sexually motivated behavior on the part of Prinz.